February plenary: Ukraine and tackling global challenges

As it marked three dark years of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, the European Parliament reiterated its resolute support for Kyiv. MEPs delved into the war's profound impact and urged the EU to stand the course and keep on providing political, military, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Here are some of the highlights from Parliament’s session in Strasbourg last week:

• MEPs debated the repression of the democratic opposition in Russia following the murder of opposition leader and Sakharov Prize laureate Alexei Navalny.

• Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chair of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, addressed MEPs, advocating for an even stronger EU support in defence and sanctions against Russia to secure a just peace.

• MEPs examined the risks that the new US administration could impose extra tariffs on EU imports and how these measures could affect EU-US trade relations.

• MEPs scrutinised the European Commission’s work programme for 2025 and debated concrete steps for increasing EU competitiveness with representatives from the Commission and the Council.

• Inflation was a major concern in MEPs’ assessment of the European Central Bank’s recent work. The bank was asked to better manage price stability and to consider the impact of global conflicts and climate change.

• MEPs challenged the legitimacy of Georgia’s self-proclaimed authorities after the country’s parliamentary elections in October 2024 were marred by irregularities.

• The European Parliament strongly condemned the occupation of Democratic Republic of Congo territories by Rwandan forces, demanding an immediate end to the violence and suspension of the EU-Rwanda raw materials deal.

Last Thursday and Friday, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola visited Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, as part of efforts to promote peace in the Middle East.

Read on to find out how the the Parliament navigates the complex global challenges.

Russia’s war in Ukraine

With the war in Ukraine about to enter its fourth year, MEPs assessed its impact and reiterated their support for Kyiv.

“I am proud that this Parliament has stood with Ukraine from the very first moment - united, unwavering, and resolute. We will keep pushing for peace. Peace must be just, it must be dignified, and it must be based on the principle of ‘Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine’,” said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

Discussions focused on the EU's continued support for Ukraine after three years of full-scale aggression by Russia.

The European Parliament expressed strong solidarity with Ukraine, emphasising the country's resilience and the necessity for continued EU assistance in various forms, including political, military, economic, humanitarian, and financial support.

The Conference of Presidents in the European Parliament, which includes Parliament’s President and the political group leaders, issued a statement condemning Russia's actions, calling for more sanctions against Moscow, and demanding accountability for war crimes. The text also argued in favour of increased support for Ukraine and progress in Ukraine's European integration.

On Tuesday, Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chair of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, spoke in the European Parliament about the need for greater EU military support and further sanctions against Russia in order to achieve a just peace. He warned that Russia is posing a real threat to Europe and expressed Ukraine's commitment to EU integration despite the ongoing aggression.

MEPs also debated the repression of Russia's democratic opposition following opposition leader Alexei Navalny's death in a penal colony one year ago, and boosting support for EU regions near Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.

EP Conference of Presidents' statement on EU support for Ukraine (press release)

How the EU is supporting Ukraine in 2025 (timeline)

The EU's continued support for Ukraine after 3 years of full-scale war (streaming)

Ruslan Stefanchuk, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, addresses the Parliament (streaming)

Speech by the Chair of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk (press release)

Repression in Russia one year after the death of Alexey Navalny (post)

Multimedia Centre: Solidarity with Ukraine

Multimedia Centre: Alexei Navalny (1976-2024), 2021 Sakharov Prize laureate

EU-US relations

The European Parliament examined the EU response should the US administration move to impose extra tariffs on the import of EU goods.

New tariffs would make EU companies’ products pricier for American consumers, likely leading to reduced sales. That would hurt EU businesses.

The EU could impose counter tariffs on goods coming from the US. Bernd Lange, chair of Parliament’s international trade committee and standing rapporteur for the US, referred to the potential EU response by saying: “Isaac Newton knew back in the day that once you have an action, you always have a reaction.”

In 2023, the EU had a surplus in the trade in goods with the US and the US had a surplus in the trade in services. The overall trade balance was €48 billion in the EU’s favour, but this only represented 3% of the €1.6 trillion trade flow.

US withdrawal from WHO, Paris climate agreement and USAID (streaming)

Trump presidency's impact on EU-US relations (streaming of a debate in January 2025)

Multimedia Centre: EU-US relations

EU-US trade: how tariffs could impact Europe (article)

The EU’s programme in 2025: boosting competitiveness and simplifying rules

The European Commission presented its work programme for 2025 to MEPs. The focus is on measures to improve EU competitiveness and economic resilience as well as increase security.

The Commission also intends to come up with plans to simplify EU rules to make them easier to implement in practice and reduce the administrative burden for businesses.

Parliament also held a separate debate with the Council and Commission on plans to boost EU competitiveness.

Commission work programme 2025 (Commission's press release)

Commission work programme 2025 (Commission's webpage)

The Competitiveness Compass (Commission's webpage)

Parliament wants the ECB to do more on inflation

The European Central Bank should do more to control inflation as it hurts the most vulnerable in society, MEPs said in a resolution on the bank’s work.

MEPs expressed concerns over persistent high inflation disproportionately affecting lower-income groups and said the ECB was wrong in its initial assessment of inflation as transitory.

Members insisted on improved economic forecasting and better management of the indirect "significant subsidy" to banks from ECB policies.

On the possible introduction of a digital euro, MEPs emphasised the need for public trust in the project, urging the ECB to demonstrate its benefits before any legislative decision is taken. The digital euro should co-exist with physical cash, the resolution said.

The Parliament also requested the ECB to consider the impact of climate change impact on price stability and to ensure the bank takes into account geopolitical risks.

MEPs ask the ECB to assess the impact of global conflicts on price stability (press release)

President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde briefs MEPs on the state of European and global economic affairs and the European Central Bank’s activities (streaming from February plenary)

Georgia’s authorities are illegitimate, says Parliament

The European Parliament passed a resolution refusing to recognise Georgia's self-proclaimed authorities from the Georgian Dream party after the fairness of the parliamentary elections in October 2024 was disputed.

MEPs called for EU sanctions on key political figures such as Bidzina Ivanishvili who have been responsible for the country’s democratic backsliding. The European Parliament viewed new parliamentary elections under international oversight as the only solution to Georgia's political crisis.

The resolution reaffirmed support for Georgia's European aspirations and said Salome Zourabichvili was still the legitimate president.

MEPs: Georgia's self-proclaimed authorities lack legitimacy (press release)

President Zourabichvili speaks in the European Parliament (streaming from December plenary)

Multimedia Centre: EU-Georgia

Violence in Congo must stop

The European Parliament denounced the occupation of Goma and other territories in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by M23 rebels and Rwandan forces, saying this was a clear violation of the DRC's sovereignty.

MEPs demanded an immediate halt to the violence that reportedly includes mass killings and rape used as war tactics. Members called for the prosecution of those committing war crimes.

Parliament urged the resumption of humanitarian operations in the region and the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Democratic Republic of Congo’s territory.

In addition, Parliament insisted on the suspension of the EU's cooperation with Rwanda on sustainable raw materials until Rwanda ends its interference in Democratic Republic of Congo’ affairs and supports the peace process. The suspension should cover the export of minerals from areas controlled by M23 fighters.

MEPs want to suspend EU-Rwanda deal on sustainable value chains for critical raw materials (press release) 

Debate on escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (streaming)

President Metsola’s visit to Israel, Gaza and West Bank

"Europe is ready to step up our engagement and do what we can to help the ceasefire-hostages release deal to hold, to provide a path to increased aid and a building block to a sustainable peace," said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola during an official visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Metsola held talks with Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar, speaker of the parliament Amir Ohan. She also met with the families of hostages held by Hamas.

The President entered into Gaza, the first European leader to do so in more than a decade. “I wanted to come here to witness first-hand Europe’s critical role in getting humanitarian aid into Gaza,” she said.

She met Palestinian leaders in Ramallah, the West Bank, including Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary general of the executive committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization. She also spoke with Reem Al Hajajra, Director of Women of the Sun, the 2024 Sakharov Prize nominee.

President Metsola also visited the humanitarian facilities in Kerem Shalom Border Crossing Point, the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing and the site of the Nova Festival in Re’im.

European Parliament President Metsola visits Israel, Gaza and West Bank (press release)

European Parliament President Metsola visits Gaza (post)

Multimedia Centre: Situation in Israel and Gaza

The EU's strategy for the Middle East (streaming of debate from the February plenary)